President Trump nominated acting Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent Navy secretary role on September 1, 2026, with the formal Senate nomination forwarded two weeks later alongside related Pentagon appointments. Cao, confirmed as under secretary in a 52-45 vote in October 2025, must secure both House and Senate waivers under the seven-year retirement rule, as he left active duty in 2021. Senate Armed Services Committee consideration remains pending, with Democrats citing concerns over sailor readiness and ship deployment strains amid the Iran conflict as potential points of opposition. The confirmation timeline hinges on waiver passage and committee scheduling before any full Senate vote.